Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) on Wednesday became the third congressman in just over one week to announce he has tested positive for coronavirus.
Davis said in a statement that he was prompted to take a test after an unusual temperature reading Wednesday.
The Illinois congressman said that aside from a higher temperature he is “showing no symptoms at this time” and that he feels “fine.”
The congressman pledged to “serve my constituents virtually from home while I quarantine.”
Davis said that after consulting with the Office of the Attending Physician of Congress and local county health officials, his office is contacting to any constituents he had met in person in the past 48 hours. He also announced that he will postpone his office’s public events in the coming days “until I receive a negative test.”
Davis’ coronavirus announcement follows the diagnoses of two other members of Congress last week, including Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) on Saturday and Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) last Wednesday. Communications director for Davis, Aaron DeGroot, told CNN that the congressman had not been in contact with either Gohmert or Grijalva.
Following Gohmert’s announcement last week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ordered a broad mask mandate requiring all House members and staff to wear masks in the House chamber and all House office buildings.
Fifteen other members of Congress had announced positive tests or presumed infections for coronavirus since the pandemic began earlier this year, including eight Republicans and seven Democrats, according to Reuters.
Davis said that his staffers in his office “take COVID-19 very seriously” and “have always followed and will continue to follow CDC guidelines.”
“All of us must do our part,” Davis said, encouraging people to wear masks and practice social distancing. “That’s what it will take to get through this pandemic.”
